So here's the sales pitch: Amazon wants to film the packaging and preparation of your goods as they get ready to ship out in order to make sure your order is properly fulfilled and addressed. Stills or the whole video are then forwarded along to you, so you can check 'em out. Granted yesterday, the patent for this oh-so-complex monitoring system is actually quite specific -- it's only operative if your order includes 'at least one book, food item, bottle of wine, flowers, or jewelry,' so it's not like Amazon can keep everyone else from doing this -- but hey, it also references verification of 'collateral items,' which is a fancy way of saying it'll be used to make sure third party fliers and advertisements make it into the box along with the stuff you actually want, so it's not all roses and sunshine.
[Thanks, JagsLive]
Amazon patents packaging surveillance, says it's for our own good originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink
CNET | 
USPTO | Email this | Comments"
